So sorry to hear about your reoccurrence Rhi32 that’s just awful?
I had my first chemo treatment yesterday a round of FEC. The actual administering was fine. However I have been feeling sick most of the time since and been physically sick 3 times. Tried fasting and drinking lots of water beforehand too so disappointed it’s not had a better effect. Typical me!!
I am wondering whether I should phone the hospital for stronger sickness tables? I have metoclopramide.
I also tried the cold capping but am not hopeful for the following reasons:
was physical hats from a freezer which they only changed after 45 mins…thought was 30 mins max
didn’t measure me for a hat just plonked one on and then an outer one all done too quickly
chin strap wasn’t even tight
I said I would spray my hair with leave in conditioner and she said where had I got that idea from and wasn’t needed?? I thought it was
no ice in hair when the cap came off
Nurse was discouraging of the cold cap and said they didn’t have much success rate. I don’t think they are doing it properly??
Morning MamaTony
I’d definitely speak to your oncologist nurse about the sickness. There’s different drugs that you can try to help it, so I wouldn’t suffer if they could try something else for you. I’m on FEC-t starting on 17th. Drugs hate me and I always feel sick so I’m expecting the same as you I really hope you have a better day today and see some improvements from the side effects. It doesn’t sound right about the coldcap…isn’t it meant to be a tight fit for the hair follicles?! Huge hugs xx
MamaTony I would definitely call the day ward … my first night was the worst so hopefully the sickness will ease for you today but I would still call them. I was given back up anti sickness pills just in case I needed them. There are other ones they can try which will help. Big hugs … hope you feel better today xx
Has anyone been given filgrastim injections that they need to give to themselves for 7 days ? need to start mine today! Dreading it … thought a nurse would come out to do it. L xxx
I just thought I’d pop a few of my tips on here, not sure if they will help but anything is worth a try. I started chemo in June, I’ve had 3 x FEC and 2 x T (Docetaxol) so only 1 left to go. The FEC does seem to come with more sickness, I found I had to keep eating little and often to help, ginger biscuits, crackers, sucking boiled sweets all helped, and it only lasted a few days for me, bit like pregnancy sickness. I also had some strange cravings for sausage rolls and salt n vinegar crisps. Also don’t put up with the SEs phone your nurse, or help line and they have lots of other tablets to try and tips to give. I remember the first time I called the hotline I so didn’t want to but now I use it as my backup if needed, thats what they are there for. The T part of chemo, so far hasn’t made me sick at all, but has more mouth related issues, lack of taste, slimy tongue etc. But again, speak to your helpline and they will provide extra meds for anything you need.
Sorry can’t comment on icecap as didn’t try it, my hair did begin shedding by day 12 of first FEC and then I had it shaved off on day 15, it was falling out so quickly and was terrible distressting but once gone, I found I could cope with it more. Eyelashes/eyebrows have thinned a lot but not until first T. I have a lovely wig which the NHS helped to fund and also loads of hats, scarves etc, you can find them really cheaply on Ebay or Amazon, £1.99 sometimes so you don’t need to spend much. Have fun playing around with them, its quite surprising how quickly you get used to them, and if people stare… STARE BACK!
well last night was fun! Nausea kicked in around 5ish, was physically sick 3 times ? i have back up sickness tablets which helped and sleep horrendously! Managed to do the school run and currently snuggled on the sofa lol
Sorry to hear that you are suffering with sickness. DO NOT PUT UP WITH IT!! Ring the helpline and get the meds changed. Did they give you Emend. That works well and is worth asking for.
Re Filgrastim injections. Just make sure you punch a good bit of belly fat and go in at a shallow angle. Take the injection out of the fridge half an hour before you need it. It makes a big difference and you shouldn’t feel it!! If you really can’t manage it the Community nurse will do it. My nurses were quite impressed that I was doing it myself.
I’ve just seen my oncologist for the first time, and I’ll be starting chemo the week after next. I’ve been given the option to take part in a clinical trial and I need to let them know on Monday if I do want to do it.
I’m feeling a bit down as my surgeon said a few weeks ago I was HER2 positive, but the oncologist said it’s triple negative, which I know isn’t great :-(.
I had a SLNB on Tuesday so I’m still waiting for those results. I go back on Monday to have some smaller tumours biopsied, and to have a marker inserted in the primary tumour. Then go back on Tuesday to sign the consent if I want to do the trial. It’s all so much to take in,and the chemo side effects list is lengthy for the FEC-T regime that I’d be on if i don’t take part in the trial.
I’m sure it will be helpful to see how you all are doing, as it’s a scary time. I’m not too bothered about the hair loss as I have short hair anyway, I just dont want this cancer to spread
Pulapula, I am TN too. Just another label. As it is so difficult to treat I would definitely take advantage of the trial. As far as I am concerned they can throw anything at me! Take one day at a time and try to stay positive. Keep away from Google!! Good luck with your treatment. Feel free to ask any questions. I have two more sessions of Docetaxol, then rads. I had surgery ™ first. Kx
If you’re still feeling nauseous do not suffer in silence there really is no need. Your team have plenty of options in their arsenal, your cocktail of choice will be different to others. Eg I was allergic to metoclopromide, ondansetron did nothing for me where as others swore by them.
My best anti nausea meds were Emend, Granisetron, cyclizine.
Best of luck x
Hi all. I started EC (3 cycles) today and wide awake at 2am feeling ok enough to come on here to share my 1st chemo day experience. Especially for Xxx who sounds like has similar doubts to me re cold cap. Side effects have been my most recent concern as appears to be for many.
The first concern after the shock of cancer diagnosis a couple of months back was the thought of a general anaesthetic for mastectomy for the 75mm invasive ductal carcioma that had snuck up on me. It turned out to be estrogen receptor and HER2 negative and lymph nodes clear. I am recovering well from the surgery and anaesthetic was fine. I am a larger build so had heart check etc which was all fine. Finding an MRI machine to squeeze into on the hottest week was not easy but did track one down in Marylebone if to or anyone else needs to find one in London. The standard size was too claustraphobic for me.
So chemo is about blasting those bad cells into orbit - my endopredict was on cusp of needing it but some lymphovascular invasion was enough to send me to an oncologist who recommended EC x3 (so every 3weeks- 3 in total and 12 x Taxol). Roll on January 2019 !
I was recommended the cold cap by my BCNs and a few others who it worked for. I do have cropped hair and it is a bit fine but strong and there is enough of it (45 years old so going grey now). I read up a bit about it and unbearable pain but I was most inspired by the news reader Rachael Bland who did a video blog of it and how it worked and impressed how well it worked for her. So I thought I would give it a try and see how I faired.
I would compare it to an ice cream headache on a extra grande gelato scale or like jumping head first into icy water. I took deep breaths and focussed on the knowledge it would subside. The hat was a strange sensation too so think of it as wearing a cold motorcycle helmet. I would also recommend a friend or loved one giving you a foot massage and chatting to you to distract you. And yes it adds some time. But I thought an hour and half may just be saved in going to try on wigs. I will soon find out rather than wonder what if.
So like everything with this whole Cancer Project we are all working on there is no one answer and no right or wrong answer. Just some advice from people in a similar boat.
All the best to you all and lets hope the side effects are at most wishing the 10pm news was on at 9pm as my oncologist said to me this morning. Or like jet lag or a really bad hangover after a weekend in Glastonbury. Fingers crossed ?
Thanks for posting. I am just gearing up for first FEC chemo on Monday afternoon. I don’t think it has hit home yet how ill I could be feeling afterwards. Trying to be practical as I live alone. Onc has given me Emend to start before first chemo and for a few days after along with arranging for the district nurse to call to give me an injection. Hopefully all the meds will work. X
I had my first FEC last Wednesday and so far I have been coping ok. I had a couple of days of feeling sick - I was given Emend. The last couple of days have been pj days, slept a lot and just ached all over.
Managed to give myself the injection … after lots of chickening out haha! 2nd one I did straight away so I’m getting better ?
Feeling brighter today tho … just hope it lasts … or at least till the next session is due ? L xx
The injections are Filgrastim. I don’t know why some people get them. They can make your bones ache so it is worth taking some pain killers as a precaution. I take codeine.
Day 5 after first FEC chemo and feeling much better.
Sick for first day and 1/2 then just tired more since then. Completely off tea and coffee which is amazing for me I normally am a 3 cuppa/day person. Same happened when I was pregnant!
Anyway had a visit to hospital today for an ultrasound on my liver. My CT scan showed everything looked ok apart from the breast and a couple of shadows on the liver?? they said the shadows could have always been there and not to worry…I AM TERRIFIED ?
And although the radiographer said she would have the results on the system by the end of today, I was told I had to wait til the 25th for them? This is mental torture.
Thinking will phone my breast nurse tom and ask if I can have them earlier. Has anyone had any experience with this?
Oh MamaTony - it does frustrate me when they do that, why tell you half a result and then say you can’t have the full picture until another day!!! GRRRRRR… I wish they would say nothing at all or tell you everything… I do know that the scans can show up all sorts of things, scarring, cysts etc so don’t panic (easier said than done I know). Good idea to ring the nurse, she wil be able to put your mind at rest.
MamaTony, I would phone the nurse in your position. She can check the system and see if the results are in, and if they are, you can ask for an earlier discussion. My nurse phoned me today just to check how I was, and i asked if my lymph node biospy results were in, but they weren’t yet, so hopefully will be back when I go to clinic next Tuesday.
Hi everone, I’ve been following this thread silently for the past few days, mainly because I have been feeling so low that I just couldn’t think of anything to say. I’m still feeling very sad today, but reckon it’s better to share this than stay quiet.
I am starting chemo tomorrow and hopefully that will help me feel a little more upbeat, just because the wait is now finally over and something is actually being done to get rid of this blasted BC. I seem to have spent my last week in hospital having one test after the other. Now they’ve discovered a large ovarian cyst, which has probably been there for some time and isn’t causing me any problems; looks like it’s benign, but they are doing more blood tests etc. I suppose it’s good they’ve checked absolutely everything, but I’ve had enough of tests for now - I need some action!
I’m sure I’m not the only one struggling with lots of negative thoughts and emotions. I am constantly being told by friends and family, that I am so strong and will get through this (well-meaning support, but somehow not that helpful) - but right now I really don’t feel strong and just feel like crying. I have contacted my BCN to see if she can maybe help and am waiting for her to call me back. But if anyone has any tips or advice on how to get through these “dark days”, I would love to hear.
Hello all amazing ladies. So youve just saved me I havnt felt need to come on the forums since having diagnosis and recon, been feeling great getting fit and waiting for chemo and boom I started last Thursday FEC-T, really sick on the day and been sailing along on steroids and antisickness. Stopped those on day 5 and had my first bad night/ bad day couldnt sleep short of breath tight chest convinced myself had caught an infection!! Paranoier back! Got up with major thick head and dizzy then washed hair and had a patch of hair loss having had cold cap! Meltdown then! Anyway got myself together nurses came to clean PICC and said just SE’s nothing to worry about and my onco has prescribed more antisickness just in case. Booked my wig fitting just in case hey ho on sofa and hoping my fuzzy head will be better tomorrow! Anyone got any tips for heavy thick head they said i can only take paracetamol really and they dont do much for me. Thanks all for getting me back in good mindset knowing I’m not only one out there! Much love Hxxx
I really hope you have a better day today and see some improvements from the side effects. It doesn’t sound right about the coldcap…isn’t it meant to be a tight fit for the hair follicles?! Huge hugs xx
Xx